Page 26 of Stephan

I cried harder, because I didn’t want Stephanto ever see this side of my life. It was bad enough he was seeingme beaten and broken. “I don’t want you to see me like this.”

“What? Why?”

“I look terrible. Now you can see with yourown two eyes how bad I am for you.” My heart broke he was seeing melike this. I bet the police were called. I’d be moved to fostercare. At least I wouldn’t get hurt any worse from Stephan if theymoved me.

“You are beautiful to me.” He stroked mycheek, which made me cry harder.

“I’m so sorry. So, so, sorry.”

“Why are you apologizing? You have no reasonto apologize.”

“Yes, yes I do. Not only am I sorry you sawme like this, but I’m sorry for leaving you.”

“What? You’re not making any sense. Youdidn’t leave me.”

“I’m going to. DoCS will take me. I won’t beable to be with you if I’m living so far away. You won’t want to bewith me after this.”

“You’re not going anywhere, I promise. Evenif you did, I would follow. I will always want to be with you.” Hestroked my cheek and I leaned into his touch, basking in hiscomfort.

*****

I was going crazy. Stephan wouldn’t leave mealone. I’d been stuck in the hospital for five days. The police hadcome and questioned me. I couldn’t tell them anything besides theobvious of what Grandpa had done to me. I found out on the secondday Grandpa had been arrested and would be going to jail for a longtime. They’d gotten a warrant, searched the apartment and pub, andfound all his drugs. He wasn’t even given bail. I’d never be goingback to him. The police came to see me again and told me they wouldhave more questions when they were ready. I cried for hours after Ifound out, not because I loved my grandpa or because I wanted tolive with him. I cried because one door had closed for me. I nowhad no known family. I was now a State problem to deal with until Iturned eighteen. I cried because I knew I’d be moved. I’d lose allmy new friends and any chance I had with Stephan.

On the third day I was told who my newguardians were and I was pissed. “What the hell, Stephan. I havebeen worrying and upset over leaving all my new friends here andstarting over again and you didn’t think to tell me your fuckingparents have custody. I cried and wailed over it all and you neversaid anything.” Right then I wished he was closer and sitting nextto my good hand so I could punch him.

The wanker shrugged. “I told you, you weren’tgoing anywhere. I told you I wouldn’t let you.”

“Argh, I didn’t think it meant me coming tolive with you. How on Earth did your parents get custody? Do theyhave a foster care license?”

“Nope. They know a lot of people. Plus didyou know your grandfather signed a document giving themcustody?”

“No because no one told me.”

“I’m telling you now.”

“Grr, you drive me crazy. You know thatright?”

The wanker shrugged again.

That was two days ago. Right now I was aboutready to kill him. I was meeting his parents for the first time.They’d thought to give me time to recover a little before theyintroduced themselves. I was grateful. Supposedly I had metStephan’s father, but I didn’t remember. The last thing Iremembered from the other night was running from my grandpa.

Tomorrow, if all was still going well, theywere releasing me. I wanted to get up and shower, the nurse had puta bag over my cast and I had waterproof dressings over the stitcheson my legs. I’d been given a walking frame to help me get to thebathroom and to stay standing. My body was still battered andbruised. It hurt like a mother to walk and I’d only done it whenStephan wasn’t around to carry me.

Now I wanted to have my first shower, so Iwouldn’t smell when I met his parents. I’d gotten a sponge bathfrom the nurses and they’d made Stephan leave, but he was refusingto leave now.

“No way, I’m not going. You need me in caseyou fall in the shower.”

“There is a nurse call button if thathappens, and I won’t fall cos I have the walker.”

“I said no.” He crossed his arms over hischest.

I eased off the bed and grabbed the walker.He took it from me and lifted me into his arms. “Put me down now,Stephan. I can walk to the shower.”

“No. You can’t walk to the shower or standfor that long. You either walk to the shower and I stand watchingyou in the shower, making sure you don’t fall, or you let me carryyou and I wait with the curtain closed.”

“Argh, I hate you.”

“No you don’t.”

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